Fastening device



19, 1936. Y U E 2,041,444

FASTENING DEVICE Filed March 14, 1953 Patented May 19, 1936 I FASTENING DEVICE Adolf Supplie, Wetter-on-the-Ruhr, Germany Application In March 14, 1933, Serial No. 680,686 Germany March 19, 1932 3 Claims. (Cl. 24-211) This invention relates to a device for fastening canvas and other fabric tops to the frames of motor cars and other vehicles, and for Joining together parts of tents and other covers.

The fastening means hithero in use in this respect comprise key bolts, eyes and chains, and press buttons, but the two first-mentioned means are bothersome to attach and produce troublesome noises and press buttons fail to establish an absolutely safe and reliable connection.

The drawbacks connected with the known fastening means of this class are eliminated by the invention, several embodiments of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is an elevation of the device according .to the invention; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section thereof; Fig. 3, a top view thereof; Fig. 4, a cross section thereof; Figs. 5 and 6 are longitudinal sections of a second constructional form; Figs. 7 and 8 are, respectively, a cross section and a view of a third embodiment; and Figs. 9 and 10 are longitudinal sections and Fig. 11 is a view of a, fourth embodiment.

Referring to the drawing and first to Figs. 1 to 4, the device according to the invention consists of a hollow body b provided with a fastening disc 0 and a closing disc a and the side wall of the body b possesses a plurality of holes 0 of which four are shown in the drawing. In the holes 0 balls at are placed and pressed into the silient material and by an elastic disc e (Fig. 2)

arranged in the top of the body b, the holes 0 being of a size permitting the balls d to project from the body b without dropping out therefrom.

Instead of the buffer e a spring may be employed and instead of four balls (1 a larger or smaller number may be used, according to the size of the hollow body 27 and the purpose it serves.

According to Figs. 5 and 6, the hollow body 1) contains an inserted sleeve i possessing a lateral contraction is hugging the balls at and a connecting neck Z which is narrower than the contraction lc to the extent as the balls d project from the hollow body b and which passes through of the locking position shown in Fig. 5 by a pressure applied to the balls d, the contraction It extends to slightly above the center of the balls (1 and the neck 1 begins therefore also at a point beyond the center of the balls.

As indicated in the drawing, the hollow bodies I; are either secured to a frame I at a certain distance from one another in case vehicle tops or the like are concerned, or they are attached directly to the tent parts or other covering matters.

0 represents a canvas or other suitable fabric part provided with spaced holes bound with the discs 71. which fit over the hollow bodies b.

When the discs h are slipped over the bodies b and pressed under the balls d, the discs will be held in position by the balls as will be the fabrics concerned, such as motor car tops, tent parts and the like, which can be taken off or separated .by drawing the discs h again over the hollow bodies b in the other direction.

. In the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the balls at are locked also by the sleeve 2' which has first to be pressed down into the position shown in Fig. 6 before the disc h can be attached and the balls (Z can enter the hollow body b to such an extent as not to project therefrom. After attachment of the disc h the sleeve 1' is released and, owing to the pressure of the buffer member m or the spring n, returns into the'position according to Fig. 5, whereupon the balls 11 are locked firmly.

Locking of the balls (I is effected also in the construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8, in which the balls are disposed between two bent resilient steel discs e and e, to the lower one of which pressure is applied by the spring 11 Between the, balls d. an angular grooved pin m is arranged which passes through the disc e and which can be turned by a lever 111. leading outside between the discs at and a In the position shown the pin m locks the balls d; by giving the pin a turn oi the balls may be pressed from without into the grooves of the pin. The lever m is prevented from rotation in both and positions by means of projections, shoulders or the like.

Figs. 9 to ll show a device provided with a closure for the balls d, which is to be actuated by a key. The hollow body 2; contains in this case sleeve 0 fitted with a disc n and a bush :1 having an angular hollow for the reception of an angular key, and the disc 1) possesses two oppositely dis-- posed projections 9* which are rounded oil below. The disc 12 of the hoilow body to is fitted with. an annular edge e having two opposite clearances t sloping on one side, which are engaged by the projections a, as indicated in Fig. 9. A spring a having the shape of a cross or some other shape, holds the sleeve 0 in position. In the hollow body b a sleeve v is provided which slightly engages the sleeve 0 and through which a key may be inserted. Insertion of a key is further possible from below th ough a hole a" of the disc a and the ledge f.

If the sleeve 0 is turned 90 from the position shown in Fig. 9 into the one shown in Fig. 10, the balls d are pressed out by the sleeve 0 and held in position thereby, so that they cannot be pressed in, as the sleeve 0 is held in position by the pro- Jections r resting on the edge s and held by a small notch in the latter. The hollow body b in this construction compared with the one illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 is boxlike enlarged and extended.

For connecting tent portions or the like the hollow bodies b are made so short that the disc h with the tent portion or the like will flt into the space between the balls d and the disc a without any play and therefore cannot be moved to and fro by wind pressure. The hollow bodies may of course be made so long as to attach two, three or more tent portions or the like, but this should alsobe done without allowing any play.

I claim:-

1. A device for fastening fabric tops to frames and joining tent parts and the like together, comprising a hollow body having an apertured side wall, a plurality of balls arranged in the apertures of said body, a plurality of discs for bordering spaced holesin the parts to be joined,

' said balls being adapted to cooperate with said discs to hold them in locked position, an elastic disc in the top of the hollow body, a sleeve in the hollow body, said sleeve having a contracted portion and a projecting neck, and a pressure member actuating said sleeve for pressing the balls into locking position and holding them therein.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure member is a rubber buffer.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure member is a conical spring.

ADOLF SUPPLIE. 

